Venetian blind



P. H. KUYPER VENETIAN BLIND July. 1.8, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 5, 1938 \N, Nh.

Y@ (aff July 18, 1939.

Filed Dec. 5, 1938 P. H. KUYPER VENETIAN BLIND Sheets-Sheet 2 /ff .22 y 57M? www @QV/gangs( Patented July 1s, 1939 PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND Peter Il. Kuyper, Pella, Iowa, assignor to Rolscreen Company, Pella, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa I Application December 5, 1938, Serial No. 243,958

zo claims.

An object of my present invention is to provide a Venetian blind structure having mechanism for controlling the tapes of a tape ladder to eilect tipping of the blind slats in a simple and eillcient manner.

' A further object isto provide tipping mecha.-

nism which will give the desired tipping action to the blind slats and yet keep the tapes spread apart the desired distance without the necessity of having to provide a large drum over which the tapes operateand one of the desirable results of the present invention is that the mechanism is so designed that it can be contained. in a sheet metal casing o! relatively low height.

A further object is to provide a tape actuating member in the form of `a crank shaft with the tapes secured ,to the crank pin and the crank pin swinging over the raising rope pulleys ,so as to ,give the desirable clearance at this point, rocker raising rope pulley and to journal the rocker members which are provided with tapelengaging elements to effect spacing of the tapes from the 'rocker and pulley supporting member.

' Still a further object is to provide rocker members which have iingers'engageable with the crank pin of the tape actuating member in such manner that the tape engaging 'elements of the rocker members tend to remain in a lowered position but are elevated by operation of the crank pin as it moves lin one direction or the other from a central position, its movement in one direction effecting clevation` of one of the tance-engaging eleeilectin'g elevation of -the other tape-engaging element. a

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features oi?` my invention will be partially obvious from the accompanying drawings and partially pointed out as the descriptionoof the invention proceeds. 'In describing the invention in detail, reference 'willi- 'be made to-.the accompanying drawings'fin which like reference characters des,- the 'sev- 55 broken awayto conserve space on thdrawings:

members being provided to keep the tapesA spaced apart even when the blind is tippedtoY casing underneath the crank pin of the tape Vac. tuating member and adaptable to support the ments and itsl movement vin the other direction-- Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of vFigure l showing parts ot the Venetian blind ln front elevation;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a'rocker and pulley supporting member used in 'my structure; 5

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a rocker member used therein, and

Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are full-sized sectional views on the respectively indicated section lines of Figure 1.

On the accompanying drawings, I have shown a casing C in the forn ofa channel shaped-sheet metal housing having a bottom wall I0 and front and rear walls I2 and I3. Laterally spaced tape openings I4 are provided in the bottom wall Ill. 16

l provide a tape actuating member A which is in the form of a crankshaft having end portions I5 and I6 and an elongated crank pin l-|. The actuator A is provided with an offset crank pin portion Il'a for the purpose of clearing a bracket 20 The portion Il' of the crankshaft A is secured in a sleeve I9 which is journaled in a bracket 2li. The portion I6 of the crankshaft is journaled iii a bearing 2|.

For rocking the crankchaft A, I provide gear teeth 22 on the sleeve I9 which mesh with a pinion 23. The pinion 23 is journaled on a pin 2l and has connected thereto a gear 25. The gear 25 meshes with a pinion 26 having an extension 30 21. The extension 21 is secured in a sleeve '28 which in turn is journaled in achannel shaped bracket 29.

In theibracket 29 is'a drum 30 having end plates 3|. The end plates 3| are secured to the 35 drum V30 and are provided with lugs 32 entering a slot'33 of the tube 28. From the foregoing description, it is obvious that the drum 30 is operatively connected to the pinion 26v tor causing oscillationof they crankshaft A through the gear- 40 ing 26- 25-23-22 when the drum is rotated.

For rotating 'the drum r30, I provide atilting rope 34 wound about the drum and extending `over a pulleyor roller 35. The ends of the rope 34'depend from the pulley 35 so that when one 45 of the ropes is pulled upon, the drum 30 will rotate in one direction, and when the other one is pulled upon it will rotate in the opposite direction.

Under the .cranky pin I1 and between ythe tape openings 'Il is a rocker and Pulley supporting 50 member S, shown in Figure 3. One ofthe members S is providedv for Veach ladder tape L of the blind, two lof which are shown on the drawings.y The slats of the blind are indicated at 3|;k and are sllppx'tedk in the usual manner by the rung tapes 55 ofV each tubular portion indicated at 33a orig-- inally assumes the position shown at the right end of Figure 3 but after the rocker members lo are journaled on the portions 39 the portions4 39a are turned 'upwardly as at the left lend of Figure 3 to retain the rocker members in position.

'Ihe rocker members just referred to are indicated generally at R (see Figure 4) Each one consists of two perforated plates 4Il connected together by a rod 4I which constitutes a tapeengaging element. Each of the plates is provided with a nger element 42 and with an opening 43. The openings 43 are adapted to surround the cylindrical portion 39 of the supporting members S whereby the rockers R are oscillatably mounted thereon..

Tapes 44 of the ladder tapes L extend upwardly through the tape openings I4 and at their upper ends are formed into a loop 45 and stitched'as at 46. k The loops 45 are adapted to receive U-shaped wires 41. the arms of which extend through openings 48 drilled through the crank pin II, the lower ends of the wires 48 then being bent (as shown in Figures 2 and 8) at 43 to retain them in position. After the tapes pa'ss upwardly through the openings I4 they pass over the tape-engaging rods 4I, as illustrated in the drawings,rthe forward left tape 44 being omitted from Figure 1 to show details of construction and the relationship of parts. p

Each of the supporting members S is pro- .vided wtih openings i0 adapted to receive a pin 5I. On each pin l5I is a raising rope pulley 52. Raising ropes 53 and 54 extend from the Venetian blind over the pulleys 52 (one for each supporting member S) and through the bracket I3. The bracket I3 has a pulley 55 therein over which the ropes extend, as shown in Figure 9, and a cam 56 is provided for wedging the ropes against the pulley when it is desirable to retain the blind at any desired elevation. A wire Y 51 is provided along the bottom of the casing C to separate the ropes i3 and 55 from each other. 'I'he ropes 53 extend through slots 53 in the blind slats 36, as shown in Figure 8, in the usual manner.

` Practical operutio ,In the operation of my Venetian vblind-when the/ slats 36 are in a'level position the crankshaft A ,ils/ina central position with its crank pin II substantially vertically above the axis .of rotation ofthecrankshaft,asshowninFlgure 7. Inthis4 position, .gravity acting on the rodsl 4I of the .rockers in addition to the tension of the tapes 44 retains the rods 4l spread apart and adjacent the tape openings I4.

when 1t is desirable to up the bund'sms one Y way or vthe other, either end of the rrope 34 is pulled upon to eife'ct rotation of the drum 3l. In Figure 8, a` dotted line position shows the crank pin I1 swung part way toward the left. The lefthand tape engaging rod 4| hasdropped slightly to its lower limit of movement, while the righthand tape engaging rod 4I has been elevated substantially vertically above the right-hand tape opening I4 and thus serves to keep the'right u lhand'tape 44 spacedfromthepulley audits support S. Thev left-hand through its tape opening I4.

Further tipping of the actuator A in the same direction will cause the parts to assume the full line position shown in Figure 8 wherein the right-hand rod 4I has been further elevated and tape 44 depends the left-hand tape 44 lowered until it starts to slacken. The slackening of the tape results from.-

the action of theright-hand rod 4I taking up the right-hand tape 44 faster than the motion of the crank pin y`Il lowers the left-hand tape. The actuator A may be tipped slightly further if it is desired to completely close the blind slats and ln so tipping it the slats will be entirely supported by the rightfhand tape 44 and thus closed to their maximum extent.

Obviously, a reverse rocking/of the crank pin Il of the actuator A will cause the crank pin to v engage the finger 42 of the rocker member R that has its rod 4I at the left side in Figure 8,v

and the left-hand rod will thereby be elevated as the actuator is rocked. This will effect closing of the blind in the opposite direction or with its vides vample space for the support and for the pulleys and at the same time permits of a relatively lower casing and a spreading apart of the tapes is effected without a relative large rocker member, as would be necessary if the tape engaging rods 4I were not provided. The rocker members,- due to their peculiar engagement with the crank pin I1, rock alternately as the slats are tipped in one direction and then the other, whereby they effect their purpose of keeping the tapes spread without the rods 4| at all times moving simultaneously with the actuator A. This contributes to the possibility of keeping down the `over-all height of the casing C, yet providing plenty of motion to secure full closing of the blind when its slats are tipped in either direction.

Having described one specific embodiment of my invention together with the operation thereof, I desire it lto be understood that this form is selected merely for the purpose of facilitating disclosure of the invention rather than for the purpose of limiting the number of forms which it may assume. It is to be understood further that various modifications, adaptations land alterations may be applied to the speciilc form disclosed to meet the requirements of practice without in any manner departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention except as set forth' in the claims appended hereto.

I claim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

tatable on an faxis subotantially coincident with the axis of said tape actuating member, said rocker members 4having tape engaging elements ber lying across the axis of the tape actuatinglocatedV adjacent said openings when said extension is at a central position and cooperating means of engagement between said rocker members and said tape actuating member to rock one of said rocker members and thereby elevate its tape engaging element when the tape actuating member is tipped in one direction and to rock the other of said rocker members and thereby elevate its tape engaging element when the tape actuating member is tipped in the opposite direction.

2. In a Venetian blind structure, a sheet metal casing of greater width than .height and having laterallyl spaced tape openings, a tape actuating member pivotally mounted within said casing and having an extension spaced from the pivotal axis,-

tapes of a ladder tape extending through said tape openings and into said casing and connected with said extension, rocker members in said casing, said rocker members having tapev Aengaging elements and cooperating means of engagement between said rocker members and said tape actuating member to rock one of said rocker members and thereby elevate its tape engaging element when the tape actuating member is tipped in one direction and to rock the other of said rocker members and thereby elevate itsvtape engaging element when the tape actuating member is tipped in the opposite direction.

3. In a Venetian blind structure, a channel shaped casing having spaced tape openings, a'

tape actuating member pivotally mounted withinV said casing between said openings and having an extension spaced from the pivotal axis, tapes of a ladder tape extending through said tape openings intosaid' casing and connected with said extension, rocker members rotatable on an axis between said tape openings, said rocker- 4. In a Venetian blind structure, a casing having laterally spaced tape openings, a tape actuating member' pivotally mounted within said casing on an axis lying ina plane between said openings and having an extension spaced from y' the pivotal axis, tapes of a ladder tape extending through s'aid openings into said casing and connected with said extension and rocker members rotatable'on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said tape actuating member, said rocker members having tape engaging elements located adjacent said openings when said extension is in central position and -having vfinger elements located on opposite sides of said extension with the tape engaging elements and finger elements of each rocker member lying across the axis of the tape actuating member'from each other.

5. In a Venetian blind structure, a casinghaving ltape openings, a tape actuating member piv-4 .otally mounted within said casing having anextension spaced from the pivotal axis, tapes of .a ladder tape extending from said tape openings into said casing and connected with said extension and rocker members having tape engaging elements and .finger elements located'on opposite sides of said extension with the tape engaging elements and nger elements of each rocker memmemberfrom each other.

6. In a Venetian blind structure, an elongatedl casing, a tape actuating member pivotally mounted within said casing on an axis extending longitudinally oil said casing and having an extension spaced from thepivotal axis, tapes of a ladder tape connected with said extension and rocker members rotatable on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said tape actuating member, said rocker members having tape engaging elements spaced laterally fromA each other and located below the axis of said extension when it` is in central position and having nger elements engageable with said extension whereby said rocker members are rocked by said `tape actuating member to elevate their tape engaging elements, one when the tape actuating element is pivoted in one direction from central position and the other when it is pivoted in the opposite direction from center.

v "7. In a Venetian blind of the character described, a supporting member, a. tape actuating member -j'ournaled thereon and having an extension which assumes an upstanding position when said tape actuating member is in central position, a pair `of tapes of-a tape ladder connected with said extension, a pair of rocker members having tape engaging elements spaced apart lfrom each other, said tape -engaging elements' serving, when said tape actuating member is in .central position, to spread said tapes apart, a

said tapes spaced from said raising rope pulley.

8. In a Venetian blind of the character described, an elongated supporting member, a tape actuating member journaled longitudinally thereon and having an extension which assumes an upstanding position when said tape actuating member is in central position, a pairof tapes of a tape ladder connected with said extension, a pair of rocker members having tape engaging elements spaced apart'from each other, said tape engaging elements serving, when said tape actuating member is in central position, to spread said tapes apart, a raising rope pulley between said tape engaging elements and below said extension, said rockerA members being engaged alternately by said extension as it is rocked in opposite directions 'from center position and the rocker members being thereby rocked alternately in opposite directions,

' each tape engaging element, as its rocker member is so' rocked, moving substantially vertically x away from said supporting member.

9. In a Venetian blind of the character described, a supporting member, a tape actuating member journaled thereon and having an offset portion which assumes a substantially upstanding position with respect to said supporting member when said tape actuating 4member is in central p'osition, a'pair oftapes of tape ladder connected with said oiset portion, a pair of rocker members having tape engaging -elements spaced apart from each other, said tape engaging elements serving, when said tape actuating'member is in central position, to spread said tapes apart, a

raising-rope pulley between said tape engaging engaged by said offset portion as it is rocked from center position and the rocker members being wardly therefrom when the tape actuating mem- Y ber is in central position, a pair of tapes of a tape ladder connected with said crank-pin, a pair of rocker members having tape engaging elements spaced apart from each other, said rocker members being journaled on said supporting member in a position below said crank pin and having portions engaged by said crank pin to rock the rocker members upon rotation of the crankshaft, a raisingv rope pulley mounted on said support beneath said crank pin, said tape engaging elements of said rocker members effecting a spreading apart ofthe ta'pes adjacent said raising rope pulley to space the tapes therefom and said tape engaging elements being alternately moved by said crank pin whereby one of them is elevated when the crank pin swings in one direction .from central position land then in the other direction from central position.

11. In a Venetian blind, a supporting member. a tape actuating member comprising a crankshaft journaled on said supporting member and having its crank pin extending upwardly therefrom when the tape actuating member is in central position, a pair oftapes .of a tape ladder connected with said crank pin, a pair of rocker members having tape engaging elements spaced apart from each other, said rocker members being journaled on said supporting member and having portions en gaged by said crank pin to rock the rocker members upon rotation ofthe crankshaft, said tape engaging elements of said rocker members effecting a spreading apart of the tapes, said tape engaging elements being alternately moved by said crank pin when the crank p in swings' in one direction and then in the other direction from central position.

12, In a Venetian blind of the character dev scribed, a supporting member, a tape actuating member comprising a crankshaft journaled on said supporting member, a pair of tapes of a tape ladder connected with said crank pin, a

' Vpair of rocker members having tape engaging elements spaced apart from'each other, and having portions engaged by said crank pin to rock the rocker members upon rotation of the crankshaft, a raising rope pulley mounted on said supmounted relative thereto, tapes of a ladder tape extending through said tapeopenings into said c'aslng and being'. connected with the crank pin of port between v said tape engaging elements, said tape engaging elements eifecting a spreading apart of the tapes adjacent said raising rope pul ley to space the tapes therefrom.

13. In a Venetian blind structure, a support.

in the form of a channel shaped sheet metal casing, the bottom of said casing having laterally spaced tape openings, a tape actuator within said casing comprising a crankshaft oscillatably elements cooperating with said crank, to effect elevation of one of said tape engaging elements when the crank pin is moved in a direction away from `the tape opening adjacent said tape engaging element and to eifect elevation of the other of said tape engaging elements when said crank pin is moved away from the tape opening thereadjacent.

14. In a Venetian blind structure, a support in the form of a casing, the bottom of said casing having laterally spaced tape openings, a tape actuator within said casing comprising a' crankshaft oscillatably mounted relative thereto, tapes of a ladder tape extending through said openings into said casing and being connected with the' crank pin of said crankshaft, rocker members rotatably mounted in said casing, said rocker members having tape engaging elements spaced apart from each other and located adjacent said tape openings when said crank pin is in central position, said crank pin being engageable with said rocker elements to effect elevation of one of said tape engaging elements when the crank pin is moved in a direction-away therefrom and to effect elevation of the other of said tape engaging elements when said crank pin is moved away from it.

15 In a Venetian blind structure, a support having laterally spaced tape openings, a tape actuating member pivotally mounted thereon on an axis lyingl in a'plane between said openings.

a rocker and pulley support between said openings and extending upwardly from Said support, said tape actuating member having an offset portion extending to a position above said rocker and pulley support when said tape actuating member ,-'is in central position, tapes of a tape ladder extending through said openings and connected with said offset portion, a raising rope pulley infsaid rocker and pulley support, rocker members having openings surrounding said rocker and pulley support whereby to journal said rocker members relative to said said rocker members having tape engaging elements.

adjacent said tape openings when said rocker m'embers are in a position to which they tendto gravitate, said tapes of the tape ladder extending over said tape engaging elements, said tape engaging elements having fingers engageable with said offset portion Aof said tape'actuating member whereby said tape engaging elements are elevated in an arc about their journaled axis to retain said tapes spaced from said rocker and pulley support. Y

16. In a Venetian blind structure, a support in the form of a casing having laterally spaced tape openings, a tape actuating member pivotally mounted longitudinally within said casing on an axis spaced above the bottom of said casing, a

rocker and pulley support between said openings and extending upwardly from theI bottom of said casing, said tape actuating member vhaving an offset portion extending to a position above said rocker and pulley support when said tape actuating member is in central position, tapes of a tape ladder extending through said openings and connected with said offset portion, a raising rope pulley. in said rocker and pulley'support, rocker members having openings surrounding said rocker and pulley support "whereby to journal said rocker members relative to said casing, said rocker membershaving tape engaging elements adjacent said tape openings when said lever members are in normal position, said tapes of the tape ladder extending over said tape engaging ofltheblind Y elements, said tape engaging elements having i'lngers engageable with said offset portion of said tape actuating member whereby said tape engaging elements are elevated from said normal position in an arcabout their journaled axis to retain said tapes spacedfrom said rocker and pulley support when said crank is swung from central position.

17. In a. Venetian blind structure, a support having laterally spaced tape openings, a crankshaft oscillatably mounted on said support on an axis lying in a plane between said openings and spaced above the support, a rocker supporting member between'said openings and extending upwardly f rom said support, the crank pin of said crankshaft being positioned above said rocker supporting member when'said crankshaft is in central position, tapes of a. tape ladder extending through said openings and connected with said crank pin, said rocker members being journaled on said rocker supporting member and "having tape engaging elements adjacent said tape' by the tapeengaging elements are elevated in anarc about their journaled axis to retain said tapes vspaced from said rocker supporting member and to take up one tape faster than the other one 'is let out :whereby to substantially close the slats 18. In a Venetian blind structure, a support having laterally spaced tape openings, a crankshaft oscillatably mounted thereon, la. rocker supporting member between said openings, the crank pin of said crankshaft being positioned above said rocker supporting Amember when said crankshaft is in a central position, tapes of a tape ladder extending through said openings and connected.

-with said crank pin,v said rocker members being journaled on said rocker supporting member,

having tape engaging elements adjacent said tape openings when said crankshaft is in central position and having portions engageable with said crank pin whereby the rocker members are rocked by oscillations of said crankshaft.

A 19. In a Venetian blind structure of the character disclosed, a support having spaced ladder tape openings, a tape actuating member pivotally mounted thereon onV an axis lying in a plane between said tape openings and spaced above the support, said tape actuating member having an offset portion extending upwardly when inV central position, tapes of a tape ladder extending through said tape openings and connected with said oilset portion, a rocker and pulley Asupporting member mounted on said support between said tape openings and below said oiset portion o f said tape actuating member, a raising rope pulley in said rocker and pulley supporting member, said last member being hollow'to permit passage of atraising rope thereinto to depend from said pulley, and means for spacing said tapes from said supporting member comprising rocker members oscillatably moucnted on said supporting member. e

20. In a Venetian blind structure, a. support having spaced ladder tape openings. a tape actuating member pivotally mountedv thereon on an axis spaced thereabove, said tape actuating said support between said tape openings and below said offset portion of said tape member and means for spacing said tapes from said pulley comprisingrocker members oscillatably mounted onV said support and provided with tape elements spaced laterally tromsaidpulley.

Y PEI'EREKI'IYPER.. 

